By Joseph Caruso and Ryan Conway
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
The College’s men’s cross country team placed an impressive 12th place among 34 different teams, including 11 nationally ranked teams.
Senior Brandon Chen led the way for the Lions in the 8k race, finishing in 26th place with a time of 24:32.40. Chen’s career has been a stellar one, racking up a plethora of honors, including TCNJ MVP (2025), 2-time All-NJAC (1st Team: 2023, 2024) as well as NJAC Rookie of the Year (2023).
Including Chen, eight different Lions placed in the main race, which catapulted them to a 12th-place finish. Fifth-year Matt Granizo (24:54.36), senior Kevin Matthews (25:19.03) and freshman Josh Santiago (25:26.57) rounded out the top 100 for the College, finishing 45th, 84th and 92nd, respectively.
Outside of the four in the top 100, Evan Melito placed 119th with a time of 25:51.54, and Moksh Patwari was not far behind at 122nd with a time of 25:54.01. Rounding out the top 250 was Phil Pace, who placed 169th (26:26.82), and Anthony Guarino who finished in 234th (27:32.57).
It was an encouraging showing for the men’s team, who now will look forward to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships after a successful season, which they will start on Saturday, Nov. 1.
On the other side, the women’s cross country team placed 24th out of 33 teams in the Conn College Invitational, which included 16 nationally ranked teams.
Junior Nahesha Gadie was the first Lion to cross the line, finishing 94th in 22:39.57. She was the only Lion to finish in the top 100, with Teagan Walker being next best at 117th in 22:56.18. Gadie, who had an impressive 2023 where she was named 1st Team All-NJAC, has had yet another solid season for the College.
Additionally, sophomore Ella Dally (146th, 23:14.01), senior Alex Grivas (162nd, 23:22.85), senior Savannah Hodgens (176th, 23:35.10), freshman Malissa Morabito (215th, 24:01.12), sophomore Ava Biemuller (219th, 24:10.04) and senior Noelle Falzone (256th, 25:39.37). rounded out TCNJ’s Top eight performers.
Despite the disappointing performance, the stellar competition that they faced off against serves as a litmus test for the girls ahead of the NJAC championships, taking place Saturday, Nov. 1.
